4. Do a search for all instances of "#" and replace all found problems in the *Excel* (.xlsx) file. Use Excel's built in “character map” and choose Unicode as the encoding while making changes.

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4. Do a search for all instances of "#" and replace all found problems in the *Excel* (.xlsx) file. Use Excel's built in character map. To access the character map window from within excel goto the Insert tab - Symbols group - Symbol, select the character you need to replace and choose "Unicode Hex" as the encoding while making changes.

[http://intranet.lib.ua.edu/wiki/digcoll/images/e/e6/French_encoding_map.xlsx This Excel file] may be useful in getting one started in searching/replacing diacritics for French language metadata.

[http://intranet.lib.ua.edu/wiki/digcoll/images/e/e6/French_encoding_map.xlsx This Excel file] may be useful in getting one started in searching/replacing diacritics for French language metadata.

Revision as of 09:35, 14 December 2012

As metadata spreadsheets exchange hands and are often even created from diverse sources, issues arise regarding diacritics. These characters often do no translate from encoding to encoding, creating poor results in the resultant MODS metadata files.

Based on our experience with French language diacritics, the following process allowed MODS to be created without the numerous encoding problems that we initially encountered with the collection: u0002_0000006 (French Revolutionary Pamphlets).

To do these steps, you will need a Windows computer with: Microsoft Excel and NotePad ++.
You will also need the TextFX plusing for NotePad ++.
To get plugins for NotePad++ refer to the application documentation with regard to the Plugin Manager.

1. Export the metadata from Excel as a tab delimited text file (use the Unicode option). If the Excel file is in the legacy .xls format, first convert it to .xlsx prior to export.

2. Open in the file in NotePad ++ and choose "Encode in UTF-8".

3. Use the TextFX plugin and choose: TextFX Characters>zap all non-printable characters to #

4. Do a search for all instances of "#" and replace all found problems in the *Excel* (.xlsx) file. Use Excel's built in character map. To access the character map window from within excel goto the Insert tab - Symbols group - Symbol, select the character you need to replace and choose "Unicode Hex" as the encoding while making changes.

This Excel file may be useful in getting one started in searching/replacing diacritics for French language metadata.

4. From Excel, export the metadata as a Unicode tab-delimited file.

5. Open the Unicode export in Notepad ++ and choose "Encode in UTF-8". Repeat Step 3 and 4 until all problems are taken care of.

6. If all is well, save the text file with NotePad ++ (it will be a UTF-8 file).

This UTF-8 file is now the file from which to create MODS with Archivist Utility. This is also the text version of the metadata that will go into long term Storage.